Bogert says the deal for Klich is all but done. BREAKING: D.C. United are finalizing a deal to sign Poland midfielder Mateusz Klich from Leeds United per sources. Not 100% done yet, but close.Klich, 32, wouldn't be a DP. @UEFAComPiotrK first on interest. Klich has 42 caps with Poland. Joined Leeds in 2018, has 192 apps. pic.twitter.com/ph31mvT3SS— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 9, 2022
One thing I will give the team credit for right now is they seem to be making their moves and signing people now. The past several years (decade?) we have waited all the way until the end of January / early February to do anything and then the team basically had no preseason together.
There is basically no league limit on the number of international players a team may have. The league has enough international roster slots that averages out to 8 per team but teams may trade the slots at will so one team could trade 5 to another team which could then have 13. There are some tweaks for teams from the 51st state.
I'm not sure what you're talking about here. The world market is absolutely how MLS teams build winners. As much as teams like Philly and Dallas use their academies to great effect, MLS teams aren't getting over the top without players brought in from overseas.
Since when? I thought you could have 3 DPs (New Jersey/New York/Los Angeles need not abide), and 4 or 5 Non-Green card holders...
Each team (well, most every, a couple traded away spots permanently when that could be done) starts with 8 international slots. DPs don't automatically take an international spot, as some DPs are American (like Darlington Nagbe or Jesus Ferreira) and some have green cards (like Carlos Vela). Teams can trade players or allocation money for more international spots.
The MLS roster rules have been very transparent for several years and are posted on the league website. https://www.mlssoccer.com/about/roster-rules-and-regulations The relevant paragraph regarding international slots: In 2022, a total of 224 international roster slots are divided among the 28 clubs. These roster slots are tradable, in full season increments, such that some clubs may have more than eight and some clubs may have less than eight during any given season. With trades, there is no limit on the number of international roster slots on each club's roster. An interesting wrinkle for this year: In addition to the International Roster Slots, each Canadian Club will be permitted to designate up to three (3) International Players who have been under contract with MLS and registered with one or more Canadian clubs for at least one year who will not count toward the club’s International Roster Slots. In order to be eligible, the International Player must have met the contract and registration requirement by the Roster Compliance date (Feb. 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. ET). So, depending on how their roster is constructed, a Canadian team may find the international spots to be of less value (since they have another avenue to have the player on their roster).
It looks to me like Tony Alfaro is leaving: Gracias por todo, Tony 👏#DCU pic.twitter.com/NuCcwMfjrf— D.C. United (@dcunited) December 9, 2022
Exactly what Pr0ner and Quietside pointed out - international roster spots are separate from DP spots. You can think of it this way: International spot is based the player's immigration status, DP spot is based on how much the player is paid. It's been this way for quite a few years.
Ok so explain to me why someone like Djeffal is a challenge to keep on a roster? He holds an international spot but according to y'all, that doesn't matter. He isn't a number ten but is a solid central midfield. Of course DP and International spots are different because there are DPs that have green cards or are US citizens. To me, someone like Najar or the Roldans are journeymen. They are solid players but not masters like Etcheverry or Moreno or Bale or Vela. Arriola is a great example of a top journeyman that may be close but in reality doesn't make the top player list. MLS rosters are full of these players. To make a top team, you need the extra spice of a Bale or Vela or the dude from Portland.. Chara is a solid player but he isn't going to win you MLS Cup. Dax McCarty isn't the dude taking you over the line but without him, your team isn't making it. These are solid journeymen players.
No one has said being an international doesn't matter. But here's the thing. There's no limit to how many international spots a team can acquire, but they cost allocation money to get. Do you want to spend $200k+ in allocation money for an extra international spot to keep Djeffal around? Is he worth it? The team likely didn't pick up Kimarni Smith's option for the same reason. Let's look at it this way. On DC's roster right now, all of Romo, Jeahze, Palsson, Morrison, Rodriguez, Samake, Robertha, Fountas, and Benteke all take international spots. If the team signs Klich, that's 10 internationals. And they may be looking at more. While they can bury Samake in Loudoun or sell Romo or hope Robertha gets a green card, they'll likely need more international spots. Spending $200k GAM on a spot for Taxi Fountas is one thing. Spending $200k GAM on a spot for Sofiane Djeffal is something entirely different. Also you didn't initially realize DPs and international slots are two different things when you first said "I thought you could have 3 DPs and 4-5 Non-Green Card holders".
You can read that statement however you like to make you right. As for the internationals, you made exactly the point I was making. They cost money and sure you can have any number, if you try to build an entire roster on that, you are spending a lot of Garber bucks, which means when those guys get injured by a nasty foul from some hack defender, your back up is going to be quite low quality. MLS rosters rules aren't like European or South American or Middle Eastern or Chinese teams where there is no cap on total salary (where applicable vis-a-vis the DP rules and spending Garber Bucks on reducing salary burden). I'm not sure why you believe my suggestion that you need a team of solid players with some stars in key areas to be successful is so strange. It is literally what teams from across the World do because they cannot afford a Zlatan or Giovinco or Bale or Chicharito at every position. In MLS, this is exacerbated because of the salary and player acquisition rules.
Dude. I don't have to read your first statement in a way that isn't there. You clearly said you thought the rules were 3 DPs and 4-5 players who weren't green card holders. Multiple people told you it's something else. Also your original comment, even before your wrong understanding of MLS international player rules, was this: "While it is great to have a world market to secure players, this isn't how people win MLS.". Your whole original premise was that the world market IS NOT NEEDED to win in MLS.
What about Kaplan's favorite category - Supplementary Player Allocation Money - SPAM. We lead the league in SPAM players.
Loudoun can't be just a bunch of U-20s running around. Not sure why we didn't keep him to strengthen the spine of that team. Better for everyone involved. Unless of course Loudoun is actually a black hole of.... oh.